Seitter



March 10, 1964 w. SEITTER 3,124,141

CIGARETTE MAKING MACHINE Filed May 4, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 10, 1964 w. SEITTER 3,124,141

CIGARETTE MAKING MACHINE Filed May 4, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent 3,124,141 CIGARETTE MAKING MACHENE Walter Seitter, Hesshruhlstrasse 61, Stuttgart-Vaihingen, Germany Filed May 4, 1961, Ser. No. 107,742 Claims priority, application Germany May 7, 1960 16 Claims. (Cl. 131-70) The present invention relates to cigarette making machines in general, and more particularly to an improved portable pocket-size cigarette making machine. Still more particularly, the invention relates to a portable cigarette making machine of the type wherein a cigarette is formed by filling a prefabricated tube consisting of cigarette paper with an elongated body of compressed tobacco.

An important object of the invention is to provide a cigarette making machine of the just outlined characteristics which is constructed and assembled in such a way that a continuous movement of an actuating member will transform a batch of loose tobacco strands 0r fragments into a substantially cylindrical body of compressed tobacco and will subsequently transfer the compressed body into a prefabricated tube.

Another object of the invention is to provide a port able cigarette making machine wherein the tube is automatically retained in a tobacco-receiving position during the transfer of a body of compressed tobacco into its interior.

A further object of my invention is to provide a machine of the above outlined characteristics which is capable of consecutively producing cigarettes containing a body of tobacco of uniform density, wherein all loose strands of tobacco which could interfere with the transfer of a body of compressed tobacco into the tube are sheared off so that the danger of ripping the tube during the transfer of a body of compressed tobacco into its interior is effectively eliminated in a very simple way.

A concomitant object of the instant invention is to provide a machine of the above described type whose dimensions are smaller than the dimensions of heretofore known tobacco making machines, which consists of a small number of component parts, which may be mass manufactured at a low cost, and whose operation is so simple that it can be readily operated by unskilled persons without affecting the quality of the product.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a tobacco making machine of the above outlined characteristics wherein the movements of parts for compressing a batch of tobacco into a substantially cylindrical stickshaped body, for expelling the body into a prefabricated tube of cigarette paper and for holding the tube in position during the expulsion of a compressed body are coordinated in such a way that a single motion-transmitting member may bring about the movements in a predetermined sequence.

With the above objects in view, the invention resides in the provision of a machine for making cigarettes by compressing a batch of tobacco into a substantially cylindrical body or stick and by transferring the compressed body into a prefabricated paper tube to form a cigarette, the machine comprising a first and a movable second compressing member, these members having preferably concave compressing faces which define between themselves a tobacco receiving chamber of variable volume and the second member being normally spaced from the first member so that the volume of the chamber is enlarged and the chamber may receive a batch of loose tobacco fragments or strands. The machine further comprises a preferably lever-shaped actuating member having a fixed pivot axis and turnable about its axis in an arcuate path between a first and a second end position and through an intermediate position, motion transice mitting means preferably assuming the form of a cam which is connected with and is turnable with the actuating member about the latters axis to engage and to entrain the second member toward the first member when the actuating member moves from its first position toward its intermediate position whereby the volume of the chamber is reduced and the batch of loose tobacco is compressed into a substantially cylindrical body, a tube supporting nipple which communicates with one end of the chamber and is aligned with the latter in such a way that the compressed body may pass therethrough and into a paper tube which is mounted on the nipple, and a plunger which is normally located at the opposite end of the chamber and is spaced from the nipple, this plunger comprising entraining means which extends into the path of the actuating member so that the latter may move the plunger through the chamber and toward the nipple while moving from its intermediate toward its second end position whereby the body of compressed tobacco is expelled from the chamber, through the nipple and into the tube.

Certain other important features of my invention reside in the provision of specially constructed entraining means for the plunger which comprises a guide member connected with the plunger by a pin or the like extending through a slot formed in the first compressing member and carrying a stud or the like which extends into the path of the actuating member, in the provision of a preferably concave extension or tongue which is normally adjacent to the compressing face of the first member and which may extend into the tube when the plunger expels the body of compressed tobacco through the nipple to reduce the friction between the body and the paper tube, in the provision of a specially configurated motion transmitting cam which moves the second member toward the first member when the actuating member begins to advance from its first end position and which thereupon maintains the second member at a given distance from the first member when the actuating member continues to move through and beyond its intermediate position, in the provision of a tube retaining device which is connected with the second member and retains a tube on the nipple during the transfer of a body of compressed tobacco into the tube but which automatically releases the tube shortly before the actuating member reaches its second end position so that the tube may be separated from the nipple in a fully automatic way during the last leg of the movement performed by the actuating member to its second end position, and in the provision of a preferably flat rectangular housing which accommodates all component parts of my machine and whose imensions may remain well below the dimensions of heretofore known machines for similar purposes.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic of the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following detailed description of a specific embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cigarette making machine embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the machine drawn substantially to scale, with the cover removed in part and with the actuating member in idle position;

FIG. 3 is a transverse vertical section through the machine as seen in the direction of the arrows from the line IllIII of FIG. 2, the movable tobacco compressing member being shown in retracted position;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary transverse section through the machine showing the movable tobacco compressing member in operative position; and

FIG. is a fragmentary transverse section as seen in the direction of the arrows from the line V-V of FIG. 2.

Referring now in greater detail to the illustrated embodiment, and first to FIG. 1, there is shown a cigarette making machine which comprises a preferably rectangular flat housing 1 having two meeting end walls 1, 1" which are respectively formed with slots 3', 3 for an actuating member in the form of a fiat lever 2 whose end portion projecting from the housing 1 is provided with a handgrip means in the form of a pin 4 or the like. The inner end portion of the actuating member 2 is concealed in the housing 1 (see FIG. 2) and is pivotable about the axis of a shaft which extends through a horizontal partition 1a of the housing and is rigid with a motion transmitting member in the form of a specially configuratcd plate cam 14 so that the cam is compelled to share all pivotal movements of the member 2 about the axis of the shaft 15. The actuating member 2 and the cam 14 are located at the opposite sides of the partition la.

The actuating member 2 is pivotable about the axis of the shaft 15 between an idle or first end position A and a second end position C and, while moving between these end positions, must assume an intermediate position B, the positions B and C being shown in FIG. 2 in phantom lines. The actuating member 2 is guided in its composite slot 3, 3" and the end walls of the slots 3, 3 respectively serve as stops to arrest the member 2 in its end positions.

The housing 1 comprises a preferably removable cover 5 which defines with the partition M an internal compartment 5' for the cam 14 and for certain other parts which will be presently described. The cover 5 is formed with an elongated opening in the form of a cutout 6 which communicates with a variable-volume tobacco receiving chamber 6a formed in the compartment 5' between a stationary tobacco compressing member 8a and a reciprocable compressing member 10. One end of the chamber 6a communicates with the interior of a nipple 7 which is screwed into or is otherwise secured to that end wall of the housing 1 which is parallel with the wall 1', this nipple 7 serving as a means for supporting an end portion of a paper tube H (see PKG. 2) which is about to receive a substantially cylindrical body of compressed tobacco formed by the members 8a, lit) in the chamber 6a. It is preferred to cut the free end of the nipple 7 at a bias because a so-configurated nipple can be conveniently introduced into the open end portion of a cigarette paper tube. At its other end, the tube H may be provided with a filter tip, not shown.

As best shown in FIG. 3, the stationary compressing member 8a forms part of a plate 8 which is fixed to the upper side of the partition la, the member 3a constituting the left-hand longitudinal edge portion of the plate 8 which is rolled into semicylindrical shape, and the member 3a having a longitudinal end face So which constitutes an inward extension of the left-hand longitudinal wall bounding the opening 6 in the cover 5. Thus, the longitudinal end face 8a of the member 8a guides tobacco into the chamber 6a and prevents the entry of tobacco into the compartment 5 to the left of the plate 8. The other or right-hand longitudinal wall of the opening 6 is aligned with the longitudinal end face of a filler plate 5a which is secured to the inner side of the cover 5 and which serves as a means for guiding the plate cam 14 and the movable compressing member 10. The member 10 preferably assumes the form of a rectangular plate having two longitudinally extending end faces 13, 9 the latter of which is of concave shape and may impart to the chamber ea the form of a cylinder when the member 10 is moved to the left, as viewed in FIGS. 2 to 4, and assumes the position of FIG. 4 whereby a batch of tobacco previously introduced into the chamber 6a is transformed into a compressed substantially cylindrical body between the face 9 and the concave inner face of the member 8a and may be subsequently expelled through the nipple 7 and into the interior of the paper tube H. The filler plate 5a is formed with a shallow depression whose transversely extending shoulders or walls llll guide the compressing member 10 in its movements between the end positions of FIGS. 3 and 4. The member 16 is under permanent bias of two helical springs 12 which are anchored in pins 12a secured to the filler plate 5a and/ or to the right-hand portion of the plate 8, and which maintain the right-hand end face 313 of the member 10 in abutment with the cam 14.

The movements of the compressing member 1% between the positions of FIGS. 3 and 4 are brought about by the specially configurated face of the cam 14. This face comprises a substantially flat first section 14a terminating in a tip or lobe 2.4a, an arcuate second section 14b which terminates at the tip 14a and whose center of curvature coincides with the axis of the shaft 15, and an arcuate third section which has a smooth transition into the section 14b and whose curvature is such that it permits a limited movement of the member 10 in a direction away from the member be just before the actuating member 2 is swung to the position C. When the actuating member 2-assumes the position A, the fiat section 14a abuts against the end face 13 and the member 10 is free to assume a position at a maximum distance from the member 8a so that the tobacco receiving chamber 6a is enlarged and reaches its maximum volume to receive a batch of loose tobacco. If the actuating member 2 is thereupon pivoted in the direction of the arrow 16, the tip 14a engages the end face 13 and compels the compressing member 14 to move toward the stationary compressing member 8a so that the batch of tobacco previously introduced into the chamber 6a is compressed into a substantially cylindrical body whose density depends on the quantity of tobacco in the chamber 6a and on the difference between the maximum and minimum volumes of the chamber 6a. The tip 14a begins to move away from the end face 13 when the actuating member 2 reaches and begins to advance past its intermediate position B toward the end position C. The end face 13 is then engaged by the arcuate section 1412 which maintains the member 10 at a constant distance from the member 8a because the center of curvature of the arcuate cam section 14b coincides with the axis of the shaft 15 about which the member 2 and the cam 14 pivot. Shortly before the actuating member 2 reaches the end position C, the end face 13 is engaged by the inwardly curved section Me which permits the springs 12 to move the compressing member it} slightly away from the stationary member 8a. The purpose of such movement of the compressing member lit) will be explained hereinafter.

Any tobacco strands which might extend upwardly and into the opening 6 when the compressing member 15) moves toward and into the position of FIG. 4 are sheared off by the cooperating longitudinal edges 8', 9' of the members 8a, 10, respectively. It will be noted that, in the position of FIG. 4, the edge 9' of the member 10 moves past the edge 8 so that the members 801, It) act as scissors blades and snip off any tobacco strands or fragments which might project upwardly past the edge 8' and into the opening 6.

The machine further comprises a tobacco expelling member in the form of a plunger 17 which is reciprocably guided along the concave inner side of the member 8a and which is normally located in a cylindrical extension of the chamber 6a which extension is aligned with the nipple '7 but is located at the opposite longitudinal end of the movable compressing member 10 and of the chamber 6a. The plunger 17 is connected with a guide member 29 which latter is slidable in a channel 20a formed in the compartment 5' between the left-hand side wall of the cover 5 and the convex outer side of the member 3a. The connection between the plunger 17 and its guide member 2% comprises a pin or a small plate 18 which extends through a longitudinal slot 19 formed in the portion 8a. The guide member 29 is connected with a downwardly extending plunger entraining means in the form of a headed bolt or stud 21 which extends into the plane of the composite slot 3', 3" and is located in the arcuate path of the actuating member 2 when the latter moves from the intermediate position B to the second end position C. In order to insure that no tobacco can penetrate into the channel 26a of the guide member 2t? by passing through the slot 19, the plunger 17 carries a forwardly projecting extension in the form of an elongated semicylindrical sealing tongue 24 whose curvature preferably conforms to and which is adjacent to the concave inner side of the member 8a. The length of the extension 24 is selected in such a way that its forward end extends beyond the foremost end of the slot 19 when the plunger assumes its rearmost position of FIG. 2, i.e. when the actuating member 2 is somewhere between its positions A and B. Though it is possible to provide a spring or another biasing means which permanently urges the plunger 17 into the position of FIG. 2, it is normally sufficient if the plunger or its guide member 20 is held with some friction to insure "rat the plunger will not automatically abandon its position of FIG. 2 and will move into the chamber 6a when the machine is tilted or when the machine is subjected to a shock. The movement of the plunger 17 in upward direction, as viewed in FIG. 2, i.e. longitudinally through the chamber 6a and toward the nipple 7, is brought about by the actuating member 2 which is provided with a suitably configurated laterally opening cam slot 22 adapted to receive the entraining stud 21 when the member 2 moves from the position B toward the position C. The configuration of the cam siot 22 is such that the plunger 1'7 advances in a straight path while the member 2 moves in an are about the axis of the shaft 15, i.e. that the plunger may enter through the rear end of the chamber 6a and may expel the body of compressed tobacco through the forward end of the chamber, through the nipple '7 and into the interior of the paper tube H. During such forward movement of the plunger 1'7, the extension 24 penetrates into the interior of the tube H and facilitates introduction of the body of compressed tobacco since the friction between the cigarette paper of the tube H and the preferably smooth convex outer side of the extension 24 is less than the friction between the tobacco stick and the cigarette paper. As shown in phantom lines in FIG. 1, the forward portion of the extension 24 projects well beyond the nipple 7 when the actuating member 2 assumes the end position C.

When the actuating member 2 advances from the position B toward the position C, the front end face 17 of the plunger 17 engages the body of compressed tobacco and advances it through the nipple 7 and into the prefrabricated paper tube H. During such movement of the member 2, the compressing member lit remains in the position of FIG. 4 because its rear end face 13 is engaged by the arcuate cam section 14b so that the volume of the chamber 6a remains unchanged.

The movable compressing member 19 carries a pref erably hook-shaped retaining member 25 which extends forwardly through a slot formed in the cover 5 and whose bent-over tip engages the paper tube H when the end face 13 of the member lit) is engaged by the arcuate cam ection Mb. As indicated in phantom lines in FIG. 2, the tip of the retaining member 25 presses the tube H against the outer side of the nipple 7 so that the tube is held against movement away from the nipple during the introduction of a body of compressed tobacco. In other words, the retaining member 25 serves as a means for preventing separation of the tube H from the nipple 7 during forward movement of the plunger 17. It will be readily understood that the friction developing between the inner side of the tube H on the one hand and the body of compressed tobacco and the outer side of the 6 extension 24 on the other hand normally tends to move the tube H off the nipple 7.

The retaining member 25 releases the tube H by moving its tip away from the nipple 7 as soon as the cam section 14c comes into en agement with the end face 13. The compressing member lit) is then free to move away from the stationary member 3a under the action of the springs 12. However, such movement of the member 10 takes place only after the plunger 17 reaches the nipple '7, i.e. upon expulsion of a body of compressed tobacco from the chamber ea so that the expansion of this chamber will not result in an expansion of the tobacco body since the latter is already expelled into the tube H. In the last stage of its movement toward the end position C, the actuating member 2 automatically separates the tube H from the nipple '7 because the retaining member 25 is now spaced from the tube and the latter follows the outward movement of the rear end portion of the compressed tobacco body.

It will be readily understood that the dimensions of the housing 1 may be further reduced by reducing the space between the partition in and the bottom wall 1b of the housing so that the width of this space does not exceed the width of the slots 3', 3". An important advantage of the improved machine resides in that the length of the housing 1, as seen in the longitudinal direction of the chamber 6a, is reduced to a minimum because the length of the plunger 17 is but a fraction of the overall length of this chamber. Additional savings in space are achieved in the transverse direction of the housing 1 because the cam 14 acts directly against the rear end face of the movable compressing member 1d. Of course, the cam 14 may be mounted in a recess provided in the upper side or in the underside of the member 10; such construction results in additional savings in space and is of particuiar advantage when the machine is intended to be carried in a pocket or in a purse. Furthermore, the cam lid and the plate in may overlap in part so that the various sections of the cam face may engage a shoulder or the like provided on or in the member 16 midway between its end faces 9 and 13 and that the cam may be used to return the member if to the position of FIG. 3.

It will be understood that the body of compressed tobacco need not be exactly cylindrical but that it may be of oval or polygonal section. The exact configuration of the body of compressed tobacco depends on the shape of the faces on the members 8a and iii.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic and specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is:

1. A machine for compressing a batch of tobacco into a substantially cylindrical body and for transferring the body into a prefabricated tube to form a cigarette, comprising a first and a movable second compressing member, said members having faces defining between themselves a tobacco receiving chamber having a first and a second end, said second member normally spaced from said first member; an actuating member having a fixed pivot axis and turnable about said axis in an arcuate path between a first and a second position and through an intermediate position; motion transmitting means rigid with and turnable by said actuating member so as to share all movements of the actuating member about said pivot axis, said motion transmitting means directly engaging and entraining said second member toward said first member when said actuating member moves from said first toward said intermediate position whereby the volume of said chamber is reduced and a batch of tobacco contained in said chamber is compressed by said faces into a substantially cylindrical body; tube supporting means aligned with and communicating with one end of said chamber; and means for expelling the compressed body from said c amber, said expelling means comprising a plunger locaed at the other end of said chamber and plunger entraining moans rigid with the plunger and extending into the path of said actuating member so that the latter, While moving from said intermediate toward said second position, advances the plunger through said chamber by direct engagement with said entraining means and the plunger expels the bod through said supporting means and into a tube mounted on the supporting means.

2. A machine for compressing a batch of tobacco into a substantially cylindrical body and for transferring the body into a prefabricated paper tube to form a cigarette, said machine comprising, in combination, a stationary first and a movable second compressing member, said members having elongated concave faces defining between themselvcs a tobacco receiving chamber having a first and a second end; means for biasing said second member in a direction away from said first member so that said faces are normally spaced from each other; an actuating member having a fixed pivot axis and turnable about said axis in an arcuate path between a first and a second position and through an intermediate position; a cam rigid with and turnable by said actuating member about said pivot axis, said cam having a face directly engaging with and entraining said second member toward said first member against the action of said biasing means when the actuating member moves from said first toward said intermediate position whereby the volume of said chamber is reduced and a batch of tobacco contained in said chamber is compressed into a substantially cylindrical body by the faces of said first and second member; a tube supporting nipple aligned with and communicating with one end of said chamber; a plunger normally located at the other end of said chamber and being of a length substantially less than the length of said concave faces; and entraining means directly connected with said plunger and extending into the path of said actuating member so that the latter, while moving 'rom said intermediate toward said second position, advances the plunger through said chamber and the plunger expels the body through said nipple and into a tube mounted on the nipple, the configuration of said cam face being such that the volume of said chamber remains substantially unchanged when the cam rotates with said actuating member and the actuating member moves from said intermediate toward said second position to expel a body of compressed tobacco from said chamber.

3. A machine as set forth in claim 2, wherein said actuating means is formed with a cam slot for receiving said entraining means, said cam slot configurated in such a way that the entraining means is connected with said actuating member when the actuating member moves between said intermediate position and said second position and that said entraining means is automatically separated from said actuating member when the latter moves from said intermediate position toward said first position so that the actuating member moves said plunger from said other end, through said chamber and back to said other end while advancing from said intermediate to said second and back to said intermediate position.

4. A machine for compressing a batch of tobacco into a substantially cylindrical body and for transferring the body into a prefabricated paper tube to form a cigarette, said machine comprising, in combination, a stationary first and a movable second compressing member, said members having concave faces defining between themselves a tobacco receiving chamber having a first and a second end; means for biasing said second member in a direction away from said first member so that said faces are normally spaced from each other; an actuating member having a fixed pivot axis and turnable about said axis in an arcuate path between a first and a second position and through an intermediate position; a cam rigid with and turnable by said actuating member about said pivot axis, said cam having a face directly engaging with and entraining said second member toward said first member against the action of said biasing means when the actuating member moves from said first toward said intermediate position whereby the volume of said chamber is reduced and a batch of tobacco contained in said chamber is compressed into a substantially cylindrical body by the faces of said first and second member; a tube supporting nipple aligned with and communicating with one end of said chamber; a plunger normally located at the other end of said chamber; entraining means directly connected with said plunger and extending into the path of said actuating member so that the latter, while moving from said intermediate toward said second position, advances the plunger through said chamber and the plunger expels the body through said nipple and into a tube mounted on the nipple, the configuration of said cam face being such that the volume of said chamber remains unchanged when the cam rotates with said actuating member and the actuating member moves from said intermediate toward but short of said second position to expel a body of compressed tobacco from said chamber; and tube retaining means rigidly connected with and movable by said second member into engagement with said nipple for preventing separation of a tube from the nipple, said retaining means spaced from said nipple when the actuating member assumes said first position and engaging with said nipple when the actuating member moves from said intermediate toward but short of said second position, said cam face comprising a section engaging with said second member and permitting a movement of the second member away from said first member immediately before said actuating member reaches its second position so that the tube is released by said retaining means and may be separated from the nipple.

5. A machine for compressing a batch of tobacco into a substantially cylindrical body and for transferring the body into a prefabricated tube to form a cigarette, comprising a first and a movable second compressing memher, said members having faces defining between themselves a tobacco receiving chamber having a first and a second end, said second member normally spaced from said first member and said faces having cooperating cutting edges; an actuating member having a fixed pivot axis and turnable about said axis in an arcuate path between a first and a second position and through an intermediate position; motion transmitting means rigidly connected to and turnable by said actuating member so as to share all movements of the actuating member about said pivot axis, said motion transmitting means directly engaging and entraining said second member toward said first member when said actuating member moves from said first toward said intermediate position whereby the volume of said chamber is reduced and a batch of tobacco contained in said chamber is compressed by said faces into a substantially cylindrical body while said edges shear off fragments of tobacco extending from said chamber; tube supporting means aligned with and communicating with one end of said chamber; and means for expelling the compressed body from said chamber, said expelling means comprising a plunger located at the other end of said chamber and plunger entraining means extending into the path of said actuating member so that the latter, while moving from said intermediate toward said second position, advances the plunger through said chamber by direct engagement with said entraining means and the plunger expels the body through said supporting means and into a tube mounted on the supporting means.

6. A machine for compressing a batch of tobacco into a substantially cylindrical body and for transferring the body into a prefabricated tube to form a cigarette, comprising a flat substantially rectangular housing; a first and a movable second compressing member, said members mounted in said housing and formed with faces defining between themselves a tobacco receiving chamber having a first and a second end, said second member normally spaced from said first member; an actuating member having a first end portion extending through a slot formed in said housing and a second end portion pivotable in said housing about a fixed pivot axis in an arcuate path between a first and a second position and through an intermediate position; motion transmitting means provided in said housing adjacent to said second member and rigid with and turnable by said actuating member so as to share all movements of the actuating member about said pivot axis, said motion transmitting means directly engaging and entraining said second member toward said first member when said actuating member moves from said first toward said intermediate position whereby the volume of said chamber is reduced and a batch of tobacco introduced into said chamber through an opening formed in said housing is compressed by said faces into a substantially cylindrical body; tube supporting means connected with said housing, said supporting means aligned with and communicating with one end of said chamber; and means for expelling the compressed body from said chamber, said expelling means comprising a plunger received in said housing and located at the other end of said chamber and plunger entraining means rigid with the plunger and extending into the path of the actuating member in said slot so that the latter, while moving in said slot from said intermediate toward said second position, advances the plunger through said chamber by direct engagement with said entraining means and the plunger xpels the body through said supporting means and into a tube mounted on the supporting means.

7. A machine for compressing a batch of tobacco into a substantially cylindrical body and for transferring the body into a prefabricated tube to form a cigarette, comprising a fiat substantially rectangular housing having a pair of meeting end walls and a slot extending through said end Walls; a first and a movable second compressing member, said compressing members being mounted in said housing and having faces defining between themselves a tobacco receiving chamber having a first end and a second end, said second compressing member being normally spaced from said first compressing member; an actuating member having a first end portion extending through said slot and a second end portion pivotable in said housing about a fixed pivot axis in an arcuate path between a first and a second position and through an intermediate position, said actuating member abutting against the housing at the opposite ends of said slot when moved to said first and second positions; motion transmitting means provided in said housing adjacent to said second compressing member and rigid with and turnable by said actuating member about said pivot axis, said motion transmitting means directly engaging and entraining said second compressing member toward said first compressing member when said actuating member moves from said first toward said intermediate position whereby the volume of said chamber is reduced and a batch of tobacco introduced into said chamber through an opening formed in said housing is compressed by said faces into a substantially cylindrical body; tube supporting means connected with said housing, said supporting means being aligned with and communicating with one end of said chamber; and means for expelling the body of compressed tobacco from said chamber, said expelling means comprising a plunger received in said housing and located at the other end of said chamber and plunger entraining means rigid with the plunger and extending into the path of the actuating member in said slot so that the latter, while moving in said slot from said intermedi ate toward said second position, advances the plunger through, said chamber and the plunger expels the body of compressed tobacco through said supporting means and into a tube mounted on the supporting means.

8. A machine for compressing a batch of tobacco into a substantially cylindrical body and for transferring the body into a prefabricated tube to form a cigarette, comprising a flat substantially rectangular housing including an internal partition having a first side and a second side; a first and a movable second compressing member, said compressing members being mounted in said housing at one side of said partition and having faces defining between themselves a tobacco receiving chamber having a first end and a second end, said second compressing member being normally spaced from said first compressing member; an actuating member located at the other side of said partition and having a first end portion extending through a slot formed in said housing and a second end portion pivotable in said housing about a fixed pivot axis in an arcuate path between a first and a second position and through an intermediate position; motion transmitting means provided in said housing at said one side of the partition adjacent to said second compressing member and rigid with and turnable by said actuating member about said pivot axis, said motion transmitting means directly engaging and entraining said second compressing member toward said first compressing member when said actuating member moves from said first toward said intermediate position whereby the volume of said chamber is reduced and a batch of tobacco introduced into said chamber through an opening provided in said housing is compressed by said faces into a substantially cylindrical body; tube supporting means connected with said housing, said supporting means being aligned with and communicating with one end of said chamber; and means for expelling the body of compressed tobacco from said chamber, said expelling means comprising a plunger received in said housing and located at the other end of said chamber and plunger entraining means rigid with the plunger and extending into the path of the actuating member in said slot so that the latter, while moving in said slot from said intermediate toward said second position, advances the plunger through said chamber and the plunger expels the body of compressed tobacco through said supporting means and into a tube mounted on the supporting means.

9. A machine for compressing a batch of tobacco into a substantially cylindrical body and for transferring the body into a prefabricated tube to form a cigarette, comprising a first and a movable second compressing member, said compressing members having faces defining between themselves a tobacco receiving chamber having a first end and a second end, said second compressing member being normally spaced from said first compressing member; an actuating member having a fixed pivot axis and being turnable about said axis in an arcuate path between a first and a second position and through an intermediate position; a plate cam rigid with and turnable by said actuating member about said pivot axis, said plate cam having a peripheral surface including a substantially flat first section directly engaging with the second compressing member when the actuating member assumes said first position and the second compressing member is spaced from the first compressing member, a tip adjacent to one end of said first section and directly engaging said second compressing member to advance said second compressing member toward said first compressing member in response to movement of the actuating member from the first toward the intermediate position thereof whereby the volume of said chamber is reduced and a batch of tobacco contained in said chamber is compressed by said faces into a substantially cylindrical body, and an arcuate section adjacent to said tip and having a center of curvature coinciding with said pivot axis, said arcuate section directly engaging said second compressing member when the actuating member moves from said intermediate toward said second position thereof to maintain the second compressing'member at a predetermined distance from said first compressing member; tube supporting means aligned with and communicating with one end of said chamber; and means for expelling the body of compressed tobacco from said chamber, said expelling means comprising a plunger located at the other end of said chamber and plunger entraining means rigid with the plunger and extending into the path of said actuating member so that the latter, while moving from said intermediate toward said second position, advances the plunger through said chamber and the plunger expels the body of compressed tobacco through said supporting means and into a tube mounted on the supporting means.

10. A machine as set forth in claim 9, further comprising a retaining member rigidly connected with said second member for engaging a tube mounted on said supporting means by pressing the tube aganist the supporting means when the second member is engaged by the second section of said cam, said cam further com- Lu prising an arcuate third section adjacent to said second section and engaging the second member shortly before the actuating member reaches said second position, said third section configurated in such a way as to permit a movement of the second member away from the first member whereby said retaining member releases the tube and the tobacco-filled tube may be separated from said supporting means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,314,734 Ptasnik Mar. 23, 1943 2,699,787 Kastner Jan. 18, 1955 2,714,383 Ming Gee Aug. 2, 1955 2,731,971 Kastner Jan. 24, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 447,878 Canada Apr. 13, 1948 448,370 Canada May 4, 1948 26,717 France Nov. 6, 1923 

1. A MACHINE FOR COMPRESSING A BATCH OF TOBACCO INTO A SUBSTANTIALLY CYLINDRICAL BODY AND FOR TRANSFERRING THE BODY INTO A PREFABRICATED TUBE TO FORM A CIGARETTE, COMPRISING A FIRST AND A MOVABLE SECOND COMPRESSING MEMBER, SAID MEMBERS HAVING FACES DEFINING BETWEEN THEMSELVES A TOBACCO RECEIVING CHAMBER HAVING A FIRST AND A SECOND END, SAID SECOND MEMBER NORMALLY SPACED FROM SAID FIRST MEMBER; AN ACTUATING MEMBER HAVING A FIXED PIVOT AXIS AND TURNABLE ABOUT SAID AXIS IN AN ARCUATE PATH BETWEEN A FIRST AND A SECOND POSITION AND THROUGH AN INTERMEDIATE POSITION; MOTION TRANSMITTING MEANS RIGID WITH AND TURNABLE BY SAID ACTUATING MEMBER SO AS TO SHARE ALL MOVEMENTS OF THE ACTUATING MEMBER ABOUT SAID PIVOT AXIS, SAID MOTION TRANSMITTING MEANS DIRECTLY ENGAGING AND ENTRAINING SAID SECOND MEMBER TOWARD SAID FIRST MEMBER WHEN SAID ACTUATING MEMBER MOVES FROM SAID FIRST TOWARD SAID INTERMEDIATE POSITION WHEREBY THE VOLUME OF SAID CHAMBER IS REDUCED AND A BATCH OF TOBACCO CONTAINED IN SAID CHAMBER IS COMPRESSED BY SAID FACES INTO A SUBSTANTIALLY CYLINDRICAL BODY; TUBE SUPPORTING MEANS ALIGNED WITH AND COMMUNICATING WITH ONE END OF SAID CHAMBER; AND MEANS FOR EXPELLING THE COMPRESSED BODY FROM SAID CHAMBER, SAID EXPELLING MEANS COMPRISING A PLUNGER LOCATED AT THE OTHER END OF SAID CHAMBER AND PLUNGER ENTRAINING MEANS RIGID WITH THE PLUNGER AND EXTENDING INTO THE PATH OF SAID ACTUATING MEMBER SO THAT THE LATTER, WHILE MOVING FROM SAID INTERMEDIATE TOWARD SAID SECOND POSITION, ADVANCES THE PLUNGER THROUGH SAID CHAMBER BY DIRECT ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID ENTRAINING MEANS AND THE PLUNGER EXPELS THE BODY THROUGH SAID SUPPORTING MEANS AND INTO A TUBE MOUNTED ON THE SUPPORTING MEANS. 